Akamar was small, but still a bit large to be sitting on Albus’s back. Reluctant to disappoint him, I suggested instead, “Would you like to sit on my shoulders? I’m taller than he is.”
His face lit up, and he practically pulled my hand to hurry me as I knelt beside him. He was a bit heavy, but I managed to lift him over my shoulders and then stood back up. Normally I’d have been a bit concerned about acting so informal with royalty, but Akamar seemed to have gotten his friendliness from his father, and he was young enough that I thought few would mind his being treated like a child so long as I doted on him.
The prince steered me down another hall, and seeing as we hadn’t found his father yet, he stopped a man passing by us. “Have you seen my father?”
“I have, Young Prince,” the man answered. “He was headed toward the east wing with a young lady and your sister.”
Akamar gave him a salute and pointed me in the direction of the east wing. It was a bit of a walk, and a part of me wondered after a while if he might be leading me in circles just so he could ride my shoulders longer.
“How old are you?” he asked as we traversed the halls.
“Nineteen,” I answered. “And yourself?”
“Seven,” he said proudly. “And my sister’s seventeen. What about your friend?”
“She’s twenty,” I told him, and he made an impressed noise as he guided me down another corridor.
Eventually, we reached a dead-end hall, and he stopped me at the start of it. “I don’t see Father…” he murmured.
Halfway down, an older woman came out of a room, and when she saw Akamar on my shoulders, she hurried over. “Your mother has been looking all over for you,” she scolded, and I took the hint and put him down. “You must dress for temple.”
“She’s searching for her friend,” he told the woman, pointing at me.
“Ah, my lady,” she greeted. “The door I’ve just come out of.” She grabbed Akamar’s hand to drag him off.
“Bye!” he waved at me as they retreated.
I waved back, and then headed for the room the woman had come out of. When I reached it, I gave a soft knock on the door and then eased it open. “Ava?”
She was the only one inside, but was so preoccupied with exploring that she didn’t notice I’d entered until I closed the door behind me. At seeing me, she ran over, throwing her arms around my neck so enthusiastically that she nearly knocked us to the floor.
“We made it!” she exclaimed, hugging me tight. And she was so joyful that I lifted her off the ground, twirling her in a circle just to hear her giggle. “I couldn’t have done it without you and the king is so kind and I met his wife and my sister and—” She stopped, releasing me from the hug in a panic. “And I’m touching your shoulder, Kiena, I’m so sorry!”
“It’s fine,” I chuckled, pulling my clothing away so she could see.
She gasped, coming forward to run her hand over the entirety of my upper chest and shoulder. “That’s remarkable!”
“It’s magic,” I corrected amusedly.
She grabbed my face to get a better look at my jaw. “Have you any pain?”
“Not a bit,” I answered. Just because she could, she tugged me into another hug. “I met your brother.”
She pulled away only enough to look at me, leaving her arms around my neck. “What was he like?”
“Delightful,” I told her with a smile. “And the queen? Your sister?”
“Oh, they’re spectacular,” she cooed, so full of elation that she spun us around. Once more, she stopped short, ceasing our spinning with a horrified look on her face.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I’m being so insensitive,” she whispered in dread, setting her hands on my shoulders only to bring me in again for an apologetic embrace. “You’re grieving, and here I am going on and on about how wonderful this all is.” She wasn’t even really talking to me. It was more like she was muttering to herself, scolding herself. “I’m so selfish.”
“Stop,” I said, even though the reminder stung a bit, “don’t think that for a second.” And I took her face gently in my hands to emphasize it. “Seeing you so happy is… well… none of this has been in vain.”
“Kiena,” Ava murmured, and as if we’d both thought of the same thing at once, her face fell.
I’d be leaving. That’s what all of this meant. My thumb stroked her cheek, and I was about to tell her not to think about that, because I didn’t want to think about it either, but before I could, someone pushed the door open.
“Avarona?” a young woman called, and she came in before I could pull away from Ava, so that it was awkward and suspicious when I did. “Oh, hello.” By the entertained smirk on her face, she’d certainly gotten the wrong idea about what was happening.
I stepped farther away, my face turning dark red as Ava cleared her throat.
The girl laughed at that, walking over to the large bed at the end of the room and dropping the clothing she was carrying onto it. Ava and I must have both appeared extremely tense, because the girl giggled to herself once more. “I assure you, there are many things in Valens considered taboo that are perfectly normal here.” After she’d freed her arms, she came back over to us looking completely at ease. “You must be Kiena,” she said. “I saw my brother on the way here and he was positively gushing about you. I’m Nira.”
Of course she was the princess. She had the same shaped eyes as Ava and her father, though they were brown, and in features she was a little lighter—I imagine she looked more like her mother. She was also a bit taller, standing at least two inches above Ava. And gods help me, she did the same thing Ava did when we first met. Held her hand out like she wanted me to shake with her. They must’ve got that from their father too. I glanced at Ava for help, but she didn’t respond fast enough and I didn’t want to wait so long that I made it even more awkward. Because the king had told me not to, I didn’t bow, but I took the princess’s hand and pressed a brief peck to the back of it.
“Princess,” I greeted.
Nira passed an impressed and amused look to Ava that only made me blush deeper. “Quite the charmer,” she teased.
The Ironwood women would be the death of me… and on purpose, I imagine. “My apologies, Princess,” I said stiffly. “I’m not experienced with royalty.” And Ronan royalty, at that.
“You’re doing quite well,” she assured me, and then threw an arm over Ava’s shoulders to lead her to the bed. “I brought a few for you to choose from.” She spread the fancy dresses she’d set down, picking one out to hold it up to Ava. She studied the combination for a moment, then set it down and grabbed another. However, Ava had reached for one too, and when Nira saw it, she dropped her own and beamed about the selection. “Oh! That would be beautiful on you.”
Ava held the dress up to herself, and turned enough to show me how it looked. I nodded my agreement. “It’s perfect.”
Nira waved for me to come closer, and she held a dress up to me when I reached them. It only took her a moment to spot my aversion. “That simply won’t do,” she said with intuitive understanding. “I’ll call for the tailor.”
“I assure you, Princess, that won’t be—” I stopped short because Nira, already knowing what I was going to say, pinched the bloodied shoulder of my tunic. “Necessary,” I finished with a laugh.
“Call for the tailor?” Nira ask Ava.
“Call for the tailor,” Ava confirmed.
Nira looked at me. “Call for the tailor?”
“Aye,” I chuckled.
Nira tossed the dress back on the bed, muttering to herself as she paced for the entrance, “Now where is my father? I swear he can’t pass a soul without stopping to chatter for at least five minutes.” She swung the door open and glanced out, but I guess she didn’t see anything. “I’ll return in a moment,” she told us, and shut the door behind her as she left.